Inhibition of ICAM2 induces radiosensitization in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

We recently identified genes and molecular pathways related to radioresistance of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using Affymetrix GeneChip. The current study focused on the association between one of the target genes, intercellular adhesion molecule 2 (ICAM2), and resistance to X-ray irradiation in OSCC cells, and evaluated the antitumor efficacy of combining ICAM2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and X-ray irradiation. Downregulation of ICAM2 expression by siRNA enhanced radiosensitivity of OSCC cells with the increased apoptotic phenotype via phosphorylation (ser473) of AKT and activation of caspase-3. Moreover, overexpression of ICAM2 induced greater OSCC cell resistance to the X-ray irradiation with the radioresistance phenotype. These results suggested that ICAM2 silencing is closely related to sensitivity of OSCC cells to radiotherapy, and that ICAM2 may be an effective radiotherapeutic target for this disease.

Network-based analysis of calcium-binding protein genes identifies Grp94 as a target in human oral carcinogenesis.

To characterise Ca(2+) -binding protein gene expression changes in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs), we compared the gene expression profiles in OSCC-derived cell lines with normal oral tissues. One hundred Ca(2+) -binding protein genes differentially expressed in OSCCs were identified, and genetic pathways associated with expression changes were generated. Among genes mapped to the network with the highest significance, glucose-regulated protein 94 kDa (Grp94) was evaluated further for mRNA and protein expression in the OSCC cell lines, primary OSCCs, and oral premalignant lesions (OPLs). A significant (P<0.001) overexpression of Grp94 protein was observed in all cell lines compared to normal oral epithelium. Immunohistochemical analysis showed highly expressed Grp94 in primary OSCCs and OPLs, whereas most of the corresponding normal tissues had no protein immunoreaction. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR data agreed with the protein expression status. Moreover, overexpression of Grp94 in primary tumours was significantly (P<0.001) correlated with poor disease-free survival. The results suggested that Grp94 may have potential clinical application as a novel diagnosis and prognostic biomarker for human OSCCs.

Overexpression of stathmin in oral squamous-cell carcinoma: correlation with tumour progression and poor prognosis.

Stathmin is an intracellular phosphoprotein that is overexpressed in a number of human malignancies. Our previous study using proteomic profiling showed that significant upregulation of stathmin occurs in oral squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC)-derived cell lines. In the current study, to determine the potential involvement of stathmin in OSCC, we evaluated the state of stathmin protein and mRNA expression in OSCC-derived cell lines and human primary OSCCs. A significant increase in stathmin expression was observed in all OSCC-derived cell lines examined compared to human normal oral keratinocytes. In immunohistochemistry, 65% of the OSCCs were positive for stathmin, and no immunoreaction was observed in corresponding normal tissues. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction data were consistent with the protein expression status. Moreover, stathmin expression status was correlated with the TNM stage grading. Furthermore, we found a statistical correlation between the protein expression status and disease-free survival (P=0.029). These results suggest that expression of stathmin could contribute to cancer progression/prognosis, and that stathmin may have potential as a biomarker and a therapeutic target for OSCC.

Occipitocervical fusion by Luque loop rod instrumentation in Down syndrome.

Four children with Down syndrome who had developed atlantoaxial dislocation and myelopathy underwent occipitocervical fusion with Luque loop rod instrumentation and decompressive laminectomy of C1. The postoperative results are presented and the indications discussed. This procedure provides many advantages in the surgical treatment of Down syndrome compared with the conventional procedures, because of the associated mental retardation that makes the postoperative management very complicated.

Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopic study of biological compounds in human sweat adsorbed on alumina.

Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy has been used for the detection and characterization of biological compounds in human sweat adsorbed on alumina surfaces. The sweat was collected from students and distributed to aqueous and benzene phases by solvent extraction. Both solutions were doped onto alumina surfaces of tunneling junctions, and the vibrational spectra of the adsorbed species were measured by inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy. Analysis of these tunneling spectra showed that lactic acid in the sweat is extracted with water and selectively adsorbed on alumina. Adsorbed fatty acids were detected from the benzene phase. These biological compounds in the sweat solutions were found to react with the alumina to give about a monolayer of adsorbed carboxylate anions on the surfaces.

Analysis of complications of permanent transvenous implantable cardiac pacemaker related to operative and postoperative management in 717 consecutive patients.

A retrospective study on complications especially related to operative or postoperative management was carried out in 1000 pacemaker implantations in 717 patients between September, 1972 and December, 1986. In 33 of our series (4.8%), 24 pacing failure occurred within two weeks of implantation. Flange-type leads had the highest incidence of complications. Wedging the electrode close to the longitudinal axis of the heart was found to be the best placing, assuming that the tip of the electrode and the section immediately adjacent were pointing downward. There were 6 cases of diaphragmatic pacing which could not be corrected through programming. No relation with the position of the electrode could be found. We recommend using bipolar pacing to lower the incidence of diaphragmatic pacing. We also had 9 patients with lead fractures (1.3%); these included 3 cases with silicone insulation breaks and 6 cases with wire fractures which occurred closely proximal to the area where the lead was fixed to the vessels. No relationship between the ratio of lead fractures and their brand was found. Five patients developed infections, all of them late postoperatively, over a period of 8 months to 5 years postop. Of these, there were 3 cases with postoperative prolonged hematoma at the pocket site, and 4 cases which had required lead repositioning because of pacing failure. The incidence of infection in our series was low when compared to previous reports, probably due to local use of one gram of Kanamycin during the operation and active chemotherapy performed short term postoperatively. To manage infection of the skin pocket, the pacemaker was removed and a new pacemaker was implanted in the opposite side. There was 7 early postoperative deaths. One of them due to cardiac tamponade caused by perforation of the cardiac wall by temporary electrode lead. The resustation was unsuccessful.

[A case of acute massive pulmonary embolism successfully treated with transvenous pulmonary embolectomy by catheter].

A 78-year-old woman, suffering from acute massive pulmonary embolism, was successfully treated with transvenous pulmonary embolectomy by catheter. This patient had been suffering from oppressive chest sensations during exercise, and diagnosed and treated as angina pectoris at a nearby clinic. She consulted our hospital complaining that her chest pains were increasing in frequency. She was admitted to our hospital on July 7, 1988, for coronary angiography (CAG), which she underwent on July 8 by the right femoral approach. After the CAG, she was ordered to rest in bed overnight, with the right inguinal region compressed. 18 hours later, the compression was removed and she was allowed to walk. Soon after she walked to the toilet, she complained of chest discomfort and fell into shock (systolic blood pressure was 60 mmHg). An ECG examination showed a right bundle branch block and an inverted T wave in lead V1-3. An echocardiography showed normal contraction of the left ventricle, but an enlargement of the right ventricle and a flattened interventricular septum. An analysis of arterial blood gas showed hypoxia (Pao2 52.5 mmHg, Paco2, 30.9 mmHg). Acute pulmonary embolism was suspected. 240,000 units of urokinase were administered intravenously, and pulmonary angiography was performed immediately. It revealed that the bilateral pulmonary arteries were almost completely obstructed. Although 720,000 units of urokinase were infused into the pulmonary artery, the obstruction did not improve. At that time, we performed a transvenous pulmonary embolectomy. We used a Judkins R 4 guiding catheter for PTCA made by USCI. The catheter was inserted into the pulmonary artery and clots were aspirated with a syringe.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Roentgenological study of antero-posterior diameter in developmental canal stenosis of cervical spine].

Developmental canal stenosis of the cervical spine is an important underlying condition of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. However, the criteria of the degree of narrowing is different among investigators and their rationales are unclear. To clarify this point, the antero-posterior diameter of the cervical spinal canal was measured in groups of normal subjects, patients with neck-shoulder-arm syndrome and cervical spondylosis. The measured values were analyzed statistically. The antero-posterior diameter was the widest in normal individuals and the narrowest in patients with the cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The point of differentiation of developmental canal stenosis was determined as 14 mm for males and 13 mm for females using the mean +/- 2SD of the values in normal subjects. Patients with values lower than this criteria comprised 82% of those with the cervical spondylotic myelopathy. These patients could be further classified into those that also showed clear cervical spondylotic changes and those that did not.

[Prophylactic effects of cefmenoxime against postoperative infections after thoracotomy. Studies of cefmenoxime transfer from serum to pleural fluid and of clinical effects of cefmenoxime].

Cefmenoxime (CMX) at a dose of 1 g was administered intravenously to each of 10 patients undergoing thoracotomy, and concentrations of CMX in the serum and pleural fluid were measured. Serum concentration of CMX reached its peak of 43.71 micrograms/ml at 1 hour and decreased to 4.15 micrograms/ml at 3 hours after the administration. The concentration of CMX in the pleural fluid reached its peak of 7.61 micrograms/ml at 3 hours and decreased slowly 5.26 micrograms/ml at 7 hours after the administration. A clinical study with 21 patients was performed to evaluate the effect of CMX as a prophylactic antimicrobial agent in thoracotomy. Patients received intravenous administration of 4 g/day of CMX for 7-10 days following operations. Each patient was evaluated daily for fever, sign of allergic reaction, and wound infection and other symptoms. No apparent infection occurred in those clinical patients except 1 patient with a suspected infection, and 1 case of allergic reaction as exanthema was observed during this study. Prophylactic effect of CMX against postoperative infection after thoracotomy was good.

[The prophylactic effects of latamoxef against the postoperative infections to open heart surgery. Studies on the penetration of latamoxef into the pericardial fluid and the auricle of heart].

Latamoxef (LMOX, Siomarin) at a dose of 2 g was intravenously administered to each of 23 patients undergoing the open heart surgery and the concentrations in serum, pericardial fluid and auricle of heart were measured. Pharmacokinetic observations are summarized below. The peak serum concentration (t = 0) was 227.3 micrograms/ml and the serum half-life (T1/2 beta) was 1.74 hours. In pericardial fluid, LMOX reached the peak concentration of 28.44 micrograms/ml at 4.9 hours and the half-life was 9.99 hours. In auricle of heart, LMOX reached the peak concentration of 42.78 micrograms/g at 6.9 minutes and the half-life was 1.74 hours. It was shown that LMOX penetrates well into the pericardial fluid and the auricle of heart, and it is considered that their levels exceed the minimal inhibitory concentration against a majority of clinical isolates except Pseudomonas aeruginosa.